Smoke torch



J. M. KING 2,340,329

s'uoxn Tonen ,Filed Aug. '6. 1940r Feb. 1,1944.

yINVENTOR Jahn Mjiing ArroRNr-:Ys

Patented F eb. l, 1944 1 UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE 2,340,329

SMOKE Tonen John M. King, noyer, N. J. Application August 6, 1910,'Serial No. 351,634

I comms. (c1. *1oz-Q65)U Y (Granted under the act lortiz-.mii 3,1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. (757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, Without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a smoke torch.

A smoke torch is a pyrotechnic device whichV produces a dense cloud of smoke and is used as a distress signal, as a position indicator or as a screen to blind an enemy or conceal friendly troops.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a smoke torch which utilizes the conventional arrangement and firing mechanism of a grenade and which includes means for smothering the name which initiates combustion of the smoke composition.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a smoke torch constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary longitudinal sectional views showing modiiications thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1, the smoke torch of the invention comprises a container 5 in which is placed a composition 6 adapted, on combustion, to produce a dense cloud of smoke. The front face of the smoke composition is formed with a conical depression 'I whose rearwardly converged wall leads to a central recess 8. A rst re composition 9 is placed in the bottom of the recess.

A cover I mounted on the container with its skirt II on the outer side .thereof is held in place by adhesive tape I2 which is removed before ring. The cover includes a tubular adapter I3 xed thereto in any convenient manner, as by welding. Thevinner portion of the adapter e tends into the recess 8 in the smoke composition and serves to provide for a chamber I4 between the cover and the conical front Wall of the smoke composition, which chamber is out of communication with the recess 8. The chamber I4 is lled with a name smothering agent I5 such as free flowing sand which may be admitted through an opening I6 that is subsequently closed by a stopper I l.

The outer portion of the adapter threadedly carries a fuse I8 which is similar to the conventional fuse employed with hand grenades and includes a pivotally mounted striker I9, a firing spring 20, a lever 2| for holding the striker in cocked position, and a safety pin 22 for retainvagainst the primer 23.

ing the lever in place on the fuse. When the Asafety'pin is pulled out and the lever released from the hand of an operator, the ring spring v25 which are disposed in a tubular extension 26 of the fuse.

In operation the gases from the igniting charges of the fuse and/o1` the first re composition forcibly remove the cover I II carrying the adapter I3. Upon Withdrawal of the adapter from the recess 8 communication is established between the chamber I4 and the recess 8 and the flame smothering agent I5 iioWs into the recess and extinguishes the flame from the rst fire composition after the smoke composition has been ignited.

In order to provide for smothering the flame when the grenade is thrown or when it is not upright the recess 21 may be deepened to receive a quantity of sand 28 underneath the first fire composition 29 as shown in Fig. 2 or an annular recess 3U (Fig. 3) may be provided at the side of the rst re composition 3| to receive sand 32 which is normally separated from the composition 3| by the removable adapter 33.

I claim:

1. In a smoke torch, a container, a smoke composition in the container, a first nre composition in said container adjacent said smoke composi-V tion for igniting the smoke composition, means carried by said container for igniting the rst fire composition, and fluent solid material within said container for smothering the iiame of the first fire composition after it has ignited the smoke composition.

2. In a smoke torch, a container, a smoke composition in the container, a first fire composition in said container adjacent said smoke composition for igniting the smoke composition, means carried by said container for igniting the first re composition, and fluent solid material within said 'container for smothering the flame of the rst nre composition after it has ignited the smoke composition, and means normally separating the said uent material from the first re composition, said last mentioned means being removable by gases of the ignited elements.

3. In a smoke torch, a, container, a smoke composition in the container having a depression, and acentral recess in its front end, a rst fire composition in the central recess, a cover on the container having a tubular extension depending into the recess, a flame smothering material dis-` posed in the depression of the smoke composition and maintained out of communication with the central recess by the tubular extension of the cover, means carried by the cover for ignitng the first re composition, and said cover adapted to be forcibly removed on combustion of the first fire composition.

4. In a smoke torch, a container, a smoke composition in the container having a depression, and a central recess at its front end, a ilrst fire composition in the central recess, a cover on the container having a tubular extension depending into the recess, a comminuted flame smothering material disposed in the depression of the smoke composition and maintained out of communication with Vthe central recess by the tubular extension of the cover, means carried by the cover for igniting the first nre composition, and said cover adapted to be forcibly removed on combustion o they first fire composition.

5. In a smoke torch, a container, a smoke composition in the container having a depression, and a central recess in its front end, a finely divided flame smothering material in the base of the recess, a nrst re composition in the central recess over said name smothering material, a cover on the container having a tubular extension depending into the recess, a finely divided ame smothering material disposed in the depression of the smoke composition and maintained out of communication with the central recess by the tubular extension on the cover, means carried by the cover for igniting the rst fire composition, and said cover adapted to be forcibly removed on combustion of the first re composition.

6. In a smoke torch, a container, a smoke composition in the container having a depression, and a central recess at its front end, said central recess having a, peripheral groove at its base, a first re composition substantially in the middle of the central recess, a flame smothering material disposed in the peripheral groove, a cover on the container having a tubular extension depending into said recess, said tubular extension separating the first fire composition from the flame smothering material, a flame smothering material disposed in the depression of the smoke composition Yand maintained out of communication with the central recess by the tubular extension of the cover, means carried by the cover for igniting the first nre composition, and said cover adapted to be forcibly removed on combustion of the rst re composition.

JOHN M. KING. 

